Table opening ahd closing device



s. CLARK. TABLE OPENING AND CLOSING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY3I. 191B.

Patented June 24, '1919. v

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

S. A. CLARK.

TABLE OPENING A ND CLOSING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31. 1918.

Patented J 11116 24, 1919.

2 SHEETS SHEET 2.

MS y 6 I I @l I ll/A9 I wvawboa: %/7

SAMUEL ADOLPHUS CLARK, orsnnr'rnn, WASHINGTON.

TABLE OPENING AND CLOSING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J 1 24,, 1919 Application filed May 31, 1918. Serial No. 237,514.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL ADoLrH s CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Table Opening and Closing Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. i

This invention relates to extension tables and the primary object of the invention is to provide an improved means for opening and closing the table, so as to eliminate the inconveniences usually associated with opening and closing extension tables.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved extension table in which the sections thereof carry inwardly extending rack bars between which is positioned a pinion carrying an operating shaft, whereby upon operation of the shaft, the sections through the medium of the pinion and rack barswill be moved toward or away from each other according to the direction of rotation. of the shaft.

A further object of the invention is to i the provision of an extension table having character, which is durable and eiiieient in use, one that is simple and easy to manufacture, and one that can be placed upon the market at a reasonable cost.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part thereof in which.

Figure 1. is a side elevation of the table venti on,

the line 44: of Fig. 2,'

the line 5-5 of Fig. 4:, and

top constructed in accordance with my in- .Fig. 2 a front elevation of the table top, Fig. 3 1s a fragmentary bottom plan view of the tableshowing the improved attachment applied thereto andshowingparts of the same in section,

Fig. 4 is a detail cross section taken on Fig. 5 is a detail cross section taken on Fig. 6 is a detail section taken onthe line 6-45 of Fig. 4%.

Referring to the drawings in detail,

several views, the numeral 1 generally indicates the improved device, which is adapted to be applied to the ordinary" or any preferred type of extension table 2, which includes the sections 3 and 4. The section 3 is provided with guide strips 5 secured to the under surface thereof, which project outwardly toward the section 4, and forms means for guiding the sections in their closed position.

Thesections 3 and 4: of the table 2are provided with a pair of spaced L-shaped guide strips 6 which are in direct alinement with each other and are adapted to receive a substantially rectangular slidingframe 7,

which includes relatively long side walls 8 andthe end walls 9. The sliding frame 7 is slidably mounted in guide walls 6 and forms means for bracingthe table to prevent sagging thereof whenthe sections? and 4C are in their extended position. The side walls Setthe sliding frame 7 have secured to their inner surface at the central portion thereof downwardly extending supporting arms 10 in which is rotatably journaled the operating shaft 11, the terminals of which extend to the side edges of the table top 1 and are provided with operating handles of suitable configuration 12, whereby the shaft may be readily rotated. The upper surfaces of the arms 10 are connected together by a suitable bracing member 13 which is adapted to abut the lower surface of the sections 3 and i. A pinion 14 is secured to the shaft 11 means of a key 15 or the like and is positioned between the arms 10 and is adapted to mesh with the upper and lower rack bars 16 and 17. The upper rack bar 16 is securedat its outer end to the lower surzt'ace of the section 3 by suitable spacing brackets 18 and the rack bars are arranged to project inwardly toward the section a. The rack bar 17 is secured at its outer end by a suitable fastening element to a rectangular shaped bracket 19, which is secured by suitable fastening-elements 20 to the section 4. A spacing plate 21 is arranged between the bracket and the section 4:, so as to space the bracket therefrom, to permit the same to engage the upper surface of the rack bar 16 to form a bearing surface for the same. A guide strip 22 is secured at the central portion thereof to the arms 10 and forms a suitable rest for the rack bar 17. An upstanding lug 23 is formed on one end of the guide strip 22 and forms means for limiting the opening movement of the sections 3 and 4.

In operation of the improved device, when it is desired to open the table, the shaft 11 is rotated by means of one of the handles 12 which will in turn rotate the pinion 14, and

thereby force the rack bars 16 and 17 in 0pposite directions, which will force the table sections 3 and 4 apart. When it is desired to close the table, the shaft 11 is rotated in i the opposite direction.

Inpractice, I have found that the form of my invention, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and referred to in the above description, as the preferred embodiments, is the most efli cient and practical; yet

. realizing the conditions concurrent with the adoption of my device, I desire to emphasize the fact that various minor changes in detail of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, when reuired without sacrificin an of the advantages of my invention as set forth.

-What-Iclaim as new is: I 1 An extension table comprising a pair of sections, alined guide ways carried by each section extending along the central longitudinalaxis thereof, a substantially rectangular open frame slidably mounted in the guide ways, depending arms carried by the central portion of the frame, a shaft rotatably carried by the arms, a rack bar carried by each section and arranged in superimposed relation; a pinion keyed to the shaft and arranged to engage the rack bars, and operating handles formed on the terminals of the shaft.

2. An extension table comprising a pair of sections, alined guide ways carried by the sections, a substantially rectangular frame slidably mounted in the guide ways, depending arms carried by the central portion of the frame, a shaft rotatably carried by the frame, and the terminals of the shaft extending to the side edges of the table, a rack bar carried by each section and arranged in super-imposed relation to each other, a pinion keyed to the shaft and arranged between the depending arms and intermeshing with the rack bars, operating handles carried by the terminals of the shaft, and a guide strip carried by the lower ends of the arms and arranged to slidably receive the lower rack bar.

3. An extension table comprising a pair of sections, alined guide ways carried by each section, a substantially rectangular frame slidably mounted in the guide ways,

and a lug carried by one end of the guide strip.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature 1n presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL ADOLPHUS CLARK.

Witnesses:

W. A. HU'r'roN, H. A. BERNARDO.

Copies of this patent maybe obtained for five ,cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

, Washington, D. C. 

